New Business Direction for the UBC Bookstore

July 11, 2011

To: Members of the UBC Community

We are contacting you to keep you updated on business developments at the UBC Bookstore.

Since 1917, the UBC Bookstore has been the supplier of course materials to the UBC campus community. Along with the core academic books, the variety and selection of merchandise and services offered by the Bookstore have increased significantly, and most dramatically over the past 30 years. For example, we are the home to the UBCcarding office and IT Help Services desk, as well as being the second largest reseller of Apple in the Lower Mainland. Indeed, books (including course materials, general (non-course) and medical books) now comprise less than 50 per cent of sales in our store and are declining.

In order to continue to grow, thrive and serve the UBC community as we have always done, we require a name that does not restrain the organization by limiting product or service offering. It is with this in mind that we decided to review our name and brand.

After a long consultation process, input from Public Affairs and approval from the senior executive team at UBC, we have agreed that our name will be changed to: UBC Central.

Continuing to link our name with UBC is fundamental. UBC Central reflects how we are a first point of entry for students for course materials and the UBCcard, and how our store’s products and services are key to the UBC experience.

While we lose the term ‘book’ within our name, our passion for academia and knowledge continue to be a mainstay of our work and fundamental to our ongoing relationship with Faculty and Students. UBC Bookstore will remain an integral part of UBC; we are not being privatized or sold.

For more information and to answers to frequently asked questions, please visit: www.bookstore.ubc.ca. You can also send us feedback at: feedback@mail.bookstore.ubc.ca.